Automobile curtain fastener



Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,473

H. A. BoRREsEN,

AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN FASTENER Filed Jan. 7. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I llAv/ll u L I 111111/ Feb. 28, 1928.

' 1,660,473 H. A. BORRESEN AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN FASTENER VFiled Jan. 7. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lmfmof: f vHelgfBarrax/1L Zo :4272655:

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Patentes Feb. ze, 192s.

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:HELGE A. nonnnsmv, or CHICAGO, ILnInois.

auroiaonrnn conferir nnsfrnnnn.

Application filed January 7, 1922.. Serial No. 527,610.)

My invention relates to socketV latchlock fasten-ers for useon automobile curtains and various other objects vrequiring a. simple, durable7 compact and positive fastening. The Vattachment of the clasp to its` coacting stud is performed byfmerely pushing the clasp down in the usual manner. The removal of the clasp is'performed automatically by lifting the curtain-or pulling the same back against the lock latch which eX- tends beyond and outside of the clasp housing. t

Among the useful objects attained by the invention are the provision of a closed clasp housing which excludes rain, theprovision of a stud that is relatively much shorter than those in the prior art and the provi` sion of avery compact Vclasp member whereby the curtain members carrying the separableparts of the fastener are held in close contact.

lt is a further purpose of the invention to provide a separablev fastener which has few andinexpensive parts, a maximum length of spring, whereby the efficiency of :the spring is retained permanently due to the comparatively small amount of movement per unit of length necessary to produce the desired spring action and to provide a positively locking latch which prevents ,acci-` dental unlocking of the parts dueto the wind or other usual pressure, but which is very easily separated automatically by .an ca 'lycffected upward or backwardpull on the curtain itself without severe stress upon the curtain material. l

lli/.tore specilicallyit is an object of the invention to provide a separable fastener which lis provided with an upstanding stud on one part thereof and a lock engaging said stud on the other part thereof which is actuated by a spring member, and which is provided with an outwardly extending lip portion which serves as an unlocking member, which lip portion is directed toward the free edge of the material upon which the fastener is mountedso that a pull on the material tending` to roll the same from the free edge toward the central portion thereof will cause the material upon which said fastener is mounted to engage with the projecting lip to move the locking member backward into unlocking position, so `as to kprovide for easy disengagement of the parts of the fastener.

Other objects and advantages of the invent-ion will appear as the descriptiony ofthe accompanying vdrawings proceeds. However, itv is to be distinctly understood that l do not intend to limit myselfto the rexact detailsv shown or described, but that l intend to include as part of my in'vention'all such obvious details and modificationsof parts yas would occur to a person skilled in` this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims. A i

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a planview of a fragmentary portion of a curtain or similar member upon which my improved separablefastener or `clasp is mounted,l said'V clasp being shown partly in plan and partly in section, the top portion of the cover being shown asy being cut away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the clasp shown in Fig. l taken on the line 2-2 0f Fig. l showing the stud in elevation, said clasp being shown in locked position .in said figure;

F ig. 3 .is a similar view'of theclasp showing the'same in unlocked position just prior to separation of the two parts of the clasp Fig. 4l is a fragmentary sectional View taken through line 4 4 of Figure l showing the actuating springfor the locking member riveted to the locking latch' c: 7

se y

'Figj is a. plan view showing a modified` form of locking latch; l

Fig. G is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure shown in Fic. 5' f f C 7 7 is a top planY view ofa modified form of clasp having a central apertureto be used where more than two edges of material are connected together by the fastener;

F ig. tl is a double shoulderedstud member for use in connection with the clasp'shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view showing in perspective the variouscomponent parts of a complete clasp in disassembled relation, said parts being arranged in said figure inthe saine relationship iny which they would be placed relative to each other in assembling; v

l Fig. l() is a plan view ofthe locking latch showing lugs engaging a flat spring member to hold thesame detachably connected with the locking latch, said spring` being partly broken away; Y

Fig. 11 is a View taken on the line ll-ll i of Fig. 10;

lila

Fig. 142 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. showing a further modified form of fastening means for a wire spring;V

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional View of the structure shown in Fig. 12 showing a cover member associated therewith;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the clasp showing the cover member removed, the locking latch and spring being formed of aV single piece of spring wire in this form of the device;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view showingv a further modified form of `fastener which is so constructed as to obtain a very compact structure Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section showing a modi# lied form of supporting member for the separable fastener; and i l Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. i6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the improved curtain fastener comprises' a stud member 20 having a flange 2l and a flange 22 spaced from the flange 2l by means of the L e neck portion 23, said flanges 2l and 22 being adapted to clamp the flexible material 24 therebetween, said flexible material being preferably an automobile curtain or similar article. The stud 20 is provided with a shank portion25'eXtending upwardly froml the flange 2l and` connecting the head 26 with the base port-ion of the stud member.`

The head 26 is preferably provided with a conical upper surface as shown at 27 and is formed so` as to provide an abrupt shoulder at 28 as will be clear from Fig. 2.- Cooperating with the stud member 2O is a bottom comprising a base plate 29, a plate cooperating with the base plate 29 to clamp the A, flexible material 31, which is preferably an overlapping edge portion of an automobile curtain, between the same andthe base plate 29, said plates 29 and 30 being provided with depressed portions 82 and 38 forming a groove and a cooperating rib respectively for clamping the material 81 between the plate 30 and the base member 29. The base member 29 is provided with an upstanding tu bular portion 34 providing an opening 85 through which the stud 2O may be passed.

Referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the tubular member 34 is somewhat longer on Y one side thereof than on the other thus providing an extension 36 which serves as a `guide for the stud in removing the bottom from the stud, and also serves to prevent the material 81 from entering the opening 35.. VTheV tubular member 34 is provided with abrupt shoulders at 87 and 87. The Portion 36 is slightly greater than semicylindrical, whereby the portions 37 and 87 are not dia l metrically opposite each other but the center of the opening will be inwardly toward the member 36 from such shoulders for a purpose to be described below. The edge portion of the base member V29 is provided l with a. peripheral flange 38 outwardly of the depressed portion 82, as will be clear from Fig. 9. Said flange 38 does notextend entirely around the peri hery of the member 29 but a substantially at portion is provided at 39 in the base member 29 having a slightly uptnrned lip portion40.V The member 8O is provided with an opening at 41 through which the tubular member 84 is adaptedto pass, and is providedwith a peripheral. flange 42, said flange also extendingonly partially around the peripheryof the member 30. A Y

locking latch 43 is mounted onthe memberV 8O andbetween said memberBO and the cap` lmember 44. Said cap member 44 has a closed top as indicated at 45 .inFig 9 and Vhas a flattened side portion 46, the corresponding portions of the member 8O and 29 being also flattened'as at 47 and 48frespectively. y

The member 45is provided withan angular side flange 49 from which the curved lugs 59 and the pointed prong-like lugs 51 depend. The lugs or prongs 5l extend through the openings 52V in the member 30 and the lugs extend through the openings 53 in the member 80. The lugs 50 are bent at right'angles to the flange 49 after being` passed through the openings so as to rest on the under face of the member 30 and bef tween the same and the member 29, while the prongs or lugs v5l 'extend through the openings 54' in the member 29 and are bent over against the outer surface of the member 29, seas to rest in the depressions 55 which are formed by striking up the portions 56 which aresubstantially triangular, as will be clear lll() from Fig. 9, thus the members 44,30 and 29 A are secured together with a locking latch 43 positioned bet-weenthe ,capand the member 80. The closed top 45 of the cap 44 is spaced a sufficient distance from the member i 89 so as to provide for the proper freedom of movement for the locking latch. *TheA locking latch comprises a plate member 57 having an opening 58 therein which is elongated, and has a rounded end 59 and a straight end 60. The plate 57 is upturned at itsend to form the lip 61 which is benton a curve as shown in Fig. 9, and also has a rounded edge portion as shown in said ligure. The tubu Vlar member J6 extends through the opening drawings, said spring being'curved on sube slt) CII

stantially arcs of circlesand having the free end portion 63 thereof contacting with the inner tace of the iiange 49.

It will be noted that from the point of contact of the spring with the tiange 49 to the point of securement thereof to the plate 57 the spring makes substantially a complete turn. rlhe spring 62 may be secured to the member 57 by means ot the integral lugil, as shown in Fig. et, this being especially desirable it the spring is made of flat material as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. I-Iowever, the spring may be secured, as shown in Fiff. 10, in which the plate 57 having the lip 61',l similar to the ylip 61, and the opening 58 is provided with a pair of upstruck lugs 65 which are cut out of the plate 57, as shown at 66, said lugs being substantially v,of the shape ot the opening shown at 66. In this instance the spring 672, which is Vot' the same shape in cross section as the spring 62, is provided with an offset portion 67 providing the'c-urved portions 68 and 69, whereby the spring will be held in assembled relation to the plate 57 when the same is inside the cap 111i. lVhen a spring is used that is circular in cross section, as shown at 6J inFig. 12, the plate 57 may be provided with a single upstruck lug 70 which is so shaped as to provide a `hook-like portion engaging with the spring 62 as shown in Fig. 13, said spring 62 being provided with an loffset 71 providing the outwardly curved portions 7 and 73 in a manner similar to the spring 6s. 'lhe hook-like portion 70 will prevent upward movement et the spring and the oiiset portion will hold the spring in assembled relation with the lug lengthwise of said spring. to reach the inner side of the cap so as to prevent the plate 57 from being pushed out ot alignment when the stud 26 is pressed into engagement with the 'cooperating member. -ii'lhenthe device is in use the stud `member is mounted on one layer of the material and the button is mounted on an overlapping layer. TWhenit is desired to secure theoverlapping layers of material together by means ot the separable fastener shown, all that is i necessary is to press the'cap member down on the stud in the customary manner. When the cap member is thus pressed down on the` stud, the `locking member will engage with the conical surface 27 ot the head'26 of the stud and the spring pressed locking member will be forced out ot' normal position so that the stud will pass through the opening 58 therein and into the opening in the tubular member 84. As the locking member passes beyond the shoulder 28 it vsprings back into such position as to lock the cap member to the stud. i

In order to release the cap member from the stud, the tree edge of thematerial is lifted up or pulled back, as shown at 74 by ex- The hook 70 may also be of a length' Fig. 3,thus unlocking the'cap member from.

the stud.

`It will be note-d that the locking member 13V cannot be moved exceptby an endwise pressure thereon. Accordingly the fastener will not accidently7 become unlocked but will be automatically unlocked when the'latch member Z13 is moved` duel tov engagement ot the material 7-1 therewith Vor manually unlocked by a pressure ot the'iinger thereon toward theimain body portion of the 'fastener. the member 61- a. force acting thereon both centrally and from an oblique tangle, as shown'by the arrows in Fig. 1, will move the locking latch to unlocking position. By providing a spring 62 that is relatively of great length 'tor the locking latch, the lite of the spring is g xeatly extended over' shorter springs, which have been previously used for devices of this character'.

'Instead of making the locking latch as` shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the same may be made as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the locking latch 75 havingv the curved lip 76 and the opening 77 is shown. The opening 77 in said locking latch instead of having the straight portion 6() isfprovided with short straight shoulders 78 and a curved recess 79, which is provided with upturned edgeportions forming a rib 80. lBy providing the re cess, the shoulder at 78 is thrown in alignment with the center of thestud 20, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thus preventing any possibility of accidental disengagement ot the stud by engagement ot the straight shoulder 78 with thel curved lower edge portion of the head 26r at the shoulder 28. The raised edge portion 80 is provided to strengthen the locking latch 75 where the stud E20 engages with the same. Instead ot making the locking member in the form of a. plate and the Spring of a separate piece of material, the

.devicej may be made as shown in Fig.f14,.

The cap member 1111 having theperipheral flange 19 has mounted therein the spring wire member having the curved spring portion 81, the tree end 82 ot which engages the inner surface ot the flange 49,'the spring portion 81 being formed substantially on ares of circles and merging with the locking portion 83, which locking portion 83 is connectedfby means ot the obliquely extending portion84 rwith the lip-portion 85' which is upturned in a similar manner tothe lip 61, and which is U-shaped, being provided with the lugs 8G and 86 which extend through open- Due tothe curved edge portion of' ings 87 and 87 inthe cap member to guide and may be provided with a cap member 93 ,similar in all respects toV the cap del, except that an opening @flis prowhich is particularly useful Where compactness is desired. In this 'form of lastener the stud is provided with a list head. 88 and the locking member-i3 is provided With a conical ilange portion 89, the other parts beingl substantiallyas previously7 described, the cap member fle being` much shalloivei than the cap 44e due to the compactness oit `the parts Within the saine, and the springl 62 beingr ot the Aform shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. rl`he members 29 and 30 are substantifL ly the same those shown in digs. lto e inclusive, except thatthe tubular portion l-l is considerably shorter than the portion Bl. i

It will be seen that in theiiorm shown in Fig. 15 Wlienthe hea( 88 engage with the beveled or conical flange portion 89, that the locking` member will` be forced under the head in a similar manneixtc the majincr in which the locking latch d3 is lorced under the head 26 in Figs. 1 to Il inclusive," ,l

, In Figs. 'lo and 17' a slightly moditied torni of securing means for the cap to the ,base member is shown. In this l'oim el' the device the base plate instead ol beine1 provided with slots, as shown at fl in Fig. 9, is provided with openings or recesses 5d for receiving the tongues 51, said tongues 51 resting in recesses formed by strikii up the material at 56 ine aortions toe'ether. In this 'torni of the la t:

device the stud 20 is provided `with a head 26 forming a shoulder at 28".and with a the lower end of the stud being, provided with a ange 21, similarto the lange 21, and having a threaded portion 92 for securing the same to a rigid portion ot the car upon which the curtains are mounted. In `this instance tivo button members are used, one ol' which is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and the other of which l may be flat and of substantially the same internal structure as that shown in Fig. 15

as shown :in Fig.

vided thereinA tirouirh which the stud 20 is adapted to pass.

Having thus described my invention, what` I desire to claim Patent is: Y 1. A device l of the cli-.tractor described and secure Il. S. Letters comprising a headed'stud, and a member adapted to engage said stud, said member including a slidable locking device adapted to engage under the head ot said stud, and a substantially spiralspring ifor holding said locking device in locking; position, said spring having one end secured to said lock- Nlllluullmuullllwwiuam ing device and extending adjacent the periphery` of said member but spaced therein a similar manner to the upstruclt portions 5G.

In Figs` 7 and 8 port-ions ol a fastener are neeofivs to engage said'stud, said member including a locking member movable into and out ot locking position transversely ol said stud, and resilient means yieldingly holdingI said locking member in locking position, said .locking member having a gradually upturned curved edgedlprojecting end portion adapted to be engaged by the material upon `which said member is mounted to unlock said device.`

A. device ot' theV character described comprising' a head-ed stud, and a member mounted upon flexible material and adapted to engage said stud, said member including a locking men'iber i'novable into and out of loclrl ing; position transversely of saidstud, and

resilient means yieldingly holding said lock-V inpY member in locking` position, Vsaid locking memberrliaving a projecting lend portion adapted to be engagedby the material upon which said member is mounted fto unlock said device, said end portionrbeing longitudinally and transversely curved.

d. :A device of the character described comprising a headed stud, anda member adapted to engage said stud, said member comprisingr a locking member having a stud l receiving opening therein movable Ainto and Haring portion 'forming a shoulder` at 91,

out of locking position transversely of said stud, a base memberuand a cap member secured to said base member and housing` said adapted to engage said stud, said member comprising abase member, a cap member and a loclnngmcmber interposed between `les saidbase member and cap member, said base member being provided with means projecting upwardly adjacent the center thereof Vfor Y automatically positioning said locking meinber relative to the other partsoi the 'device in assembling` the same. i

6. A `device of the character described comprising a `headed stud and a member adapted to engage said stud, member comprising a base member, a cap member and a' locking member `interposed between saidbase member and cap member, said base member being provided with means projectinritoivard said cap for automatically pos u A y sitiomngsaid locking member` relative to lao ,iiiliuulllllll ingga portion thereof extending through anr opening in said housingand beyond the same, said extending portion having an ei;-

tremity curved in a plurality of directionsv and having a curved edge, said extremity being adapted to be engaged by the material upon which said housing is mounted to automatically unlock said fastener.

8. The combination with a shouldered stud of a slidable latch locl fastener comprising a housing, a container plate.I a slidable latch lock housed between said plate and housing, resilient means for holding said lock in locking position, said housing having short prongs for securing said plate thereto and longer prongs for attaching said fastenerv to the material upon which the same is mounted, and a material supporting base plate secured to said housing by means of said last mentioned prongs, said base plate` having struck-in depressions for accommodating said attaching prongs Within the outlines of said fastener.

9. ln a device of the character described, a shouldered stud, a fastener comprising a housing, a slidable locking vlatch in said housing and a bandspring member curved on the arcs of circulars in .said housing, a convolution of said spring extending around a substantial portion of the inner surface of said housing, and always spaced therefrom to provide a long spring having a relatively` short movement due to the movements of said latch. c

10. A device of the character described comprising a housing, a base plate and a slidablc locking latch within said housing,

said base plate having a tubular member proy.

jecting through an oblong` opening .in said latch and said latch having a portion projecting through an opening in said housing whereby said latch is guided in its longitudinal movement, said tubular member having a projection provided with curved vcorners to automatically locatesaid latch in assembling said device and having a shoulder. to limit the latch in its movement.`

ln Witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of January A. D., 1922.

HELGE A; BORRESEN. c i 

